Method of producing wheel bodies



y 1929. 1. s. CRISSMAN 1,711,833

METHOD OF PRODUCING WHEEL BODIES Filed July 15, 1927 uuuulu ggguluuum Patented May 7, 1929.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

IRA S. CRISSMAN, OF LANSING, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS. TO STEEL WHEEL CORPORATION, OF LANSING, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION OF MICHIGAN.

METHOD OF PRODUCING WHEEL BODIES.

Application filed July 15,1927. Serial No. 205,863.

In the manufacture of so-called spoke wheels from forged disks, having apertures in the disk to define intervening portions of spoke formation and a marginal continuous annulus, difliculty is experienced in preserving the true relation of the parts -in the shaping of the disk by forging to impart thereto the desired radial contour.

The practice has been to produce a substantially flat disk, punch or otherwise form apertures therein at intervals, and then press the disk contour into annular zones of radial curvature. In the shaping of the disk by forging, the marginal annulus is distorted from a true circle due to the unequal radial support as between the aperturcd and intact disk portions. This is particularly true in the case of forged disks of radiallytapering thickness.

The object of the present invention is so to form the disk in its several operations that the shape of the same in its apertured and intact marginal portions shall be free from distortion and uniform forged wheel bodies assured upon the completion of the forming operation.

The invention is clearly set out in the followingdescription and claims and in the accompanying illustrative drawings, wherem Figs. 1 and 2 are respectively a face view and a radial section of one-half the disk when first formed by forging;

Figs. 3 and 4 are similar views representing the same disk after shaping to a preferred surface contour;

Figs. 5 and 6 represent, by means of similar views, the disk after being apertured; and

Figs. 7 and 8 illustrate the assembly of the completed wheel body with one type of rim in common use.

As illustrated, the disk 11 of Figs. 1 and 2, shaped by forging from a billet into a disk of radially decreasing thickness, having the desired surface contour is laterally deflected as represented in Figs. 3 and 4 by means of suitable dies, a marginal flange 12 being turned on the disk to serve as a means for rim attachment. As illustrated, the disk is apertured at intervals as indicated at 13, the outer boundaries of the apertures coinciding substantially with the junction of the flange and the body portion of the disk.

The apertures of the disk define intervening radial spoke portions 14 which serve as an integral connection between the marginal flange 12 and the central portion of the disk.

The wheel body thus formed may have assembled therewith in any approved mannerv a tire-carrying rim of preferred type here illustrated at 15 as a quick-detachable rim surrounding the marginal flange and secured thereto by rivets 16. Aside from the spoke design imparted by the alternate apertures 13 and radial portions 14, the apertures 13 serve as hand holes to give access to the valve stem of a pneumatic tire mounted upon the rim 15.

By completely shaping the disk by forging before the apertures 13 are punched therein, all portions of the disk, including the margin, are equally supported during the shaping operation and no distortion of the parts results, the marginal flange becoming a true annulus disposed substantially atright angles to the general plane of the wheel body; whereas if the disk be first apertured, subsequent forging will cause those portions of the margin in line with the apertures to become displaced radially and result in a flange bounded by an irregular wavy I claim:

1. The method of producing a wheel body, which consists in forging a disk to a radially tapering thickness, shaping the disk to the desired surface contour, and thereafter aperturing the same at intervals to define intervening radial spoke portions and a marginal rim-receiving annulus.

2. The method of producing a wheel body, which consists in forging a radially tapering disk, shaping the disk to a surface contour including a laterally-extending marginal flange, aperturing the disk at intervals to define intervening radial spoke portions and to constitute of the flange a marginal rimreceiving annulus.

3. The method of producing a wheel body, which consists in forging a, radially tapering disk, shaping the disk to the desired surface contour including a laterally-extending marginal flan e, punching apertures in the disk at intervals inwardly of the flange to define intervening radialspoke' portions and to constitute of the flange a marginal rim receiving annulus.

4. The method of producing awheel body, portions and to constitute of the flange a which consists in forging a disk to a radially marginal annulus, assembling a. rim about tapering thickness, shaping the disk to the the flange, and suitably securing the rim 10 desired surface contour including a Iaterallyupon the flange.

5 extending marginal flange, punching aper- In testimony whereof I have hereunto tures in the disk at intervals inwardl of the subscribed my name. flange to define intervening radia spoke IRAS. CRISSMAN. 

